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Lezha teacher’s arm broken by student in chair fight

A serious incident happened at the high school “Hydajet Lezha” in the city of Lezha this Wednesday. Teacher Majlinda Palushi was hit with a chair by a student inside the school premises. She was sent by ambulance to Lezha hospital and it is learned that she broke her arm from …

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Persons who raped woman in Vlora left in prison

Court of Vlora decided this Wednesday the security measure ‘Arrest with prison’ for the three citizens accused of incitement and use of drugs and then the rape of the 26-year-old a few days ago. Two of them, Oltjon Tahiri and Albi Ceno, have been arrested, while Gentjano Mehmeti has been …

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Rama meets Varheleyi in Brussels

Prime Minister Edi Rama is in Brussels, where he will participate in the “Global Gateway” forum on the current challenges of Europe and the importance of international cooperation. The head of the government met with the commissioner for expansion Oliver Varhelyi. The Prime Minister’s visit to Brussels comes a few …

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Mayor Veliaj met ex-ambassador Arvizu in US visit

Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj has met with a special friend of Albania, the former US ambassador Aleksandër Arvizu, in his last visit to the United States of America. As it can be seen from this photo published by Veliaj, he has got a great friendship with the former American …

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Former PM Berisha “willing” to testify at Special Court on corruption charges

The special court summoned Sali Berisha to a hearing today at 2:00 p.m. to inform him of the accusation and the security measure against him. But Berisha said he will not go to court. He stated that the decision was made in violation of the constitution. Former Prime Minister Sali …

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Igor Kokunov appears before Shkodra court after arrest

Court hearing against Igor Kokunov, the 59-year-old arrested at the Muriqani border point, wanted by the Russian International Interpol is being held this Tuesday in Shkodra. According to the local media, strict security measures have been taken due to information that Belgrade gangs may intervene for his release. On his …

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Five young drug dealers, over 160 cannabis doses seized in Tirana

Five people have been arrested by the police after selling drugs near schools in the capital. Following the investigations within the “Temple” operation, the police have provided information that these people were selling cannabis narcotics near schools in different areas of Tirana. The persons in question, two 19-year-olds, one 18-year-old, …

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Accused for corruption/ Berisha refuses the trial, sends the lawyers

Sali Berisha decided not to appear at the session at the GJKKO premises, at 14:00, where he was to be questioned regarding the privatization of the former “Partizani” complex, for which he is accused of passive corruption and money laundering. However, Berisha has sent his lawyers Genc Gjokutaj and Sokol …

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NBI, police in action to arrest notorious murderer in Elbasan

Numerous police forces assisted by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) have carried out an action this Tuesday morning, for the capture of the person wanted for a murder order, Suel Çela. Police forces landed at the agro-food market and at the latter’s house for checks.  It is …

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Police control at “Partizani” complex to seize the properties of Sali Berisha’s son in laws

The police have landed in the complex of buildings built by Jamarber Malltezi, the son-in-law of Sali Berisha, in the land where the “Partizani” complex used to be. ABC News journalist Ervin Leka reports that the Judicial Police and Economic Crime Officers went to the complex to execute the decision …

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Toxic Smoke and Broken Promises: Albania’s Waste Crisis Exposes Deep Rot in Governance

ELBASAN, Albania, July 5,— For days, thick plumes of toxic smoke have risen from the burning landfill on the outskirts of Elbasan, one of Albania’s largest industrial cities. The stench of melting plastic, rotting waste, and scorched earth now hangs over entire neighborhoods. But this is not an isolated accident. …

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Serbia on Edge as Vučić’s Legitimacy Crumbles

As Serbia grapples with one of its most volatile moments in recent political history, the warning signs of regime decay are hard to ignore. The recent student-led protests, marred by repression, nationalist hijacking, and social unrest, are more than a youth revolt—they are a reckoning. Sonja Biserko, the longtime chair …

News
Albanian MPs Adopt National Anti-Disinformation Strategy Amidst Opposition

Opposition parties and media unions condemn new strategy adopted by parliament, claiming the government wants to use it to exert more control over the media. Original post Here

News
Week in Review: Anniversaries, Challenges and Conflicts

As BIRN celebrates two decades of work, there never seems to be a dull moment in the region, as our selection of Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

News
Arrests at Bankers Petroleum Spark Questions Over Albania’s Oil Industry and Accountability

By Tirana Times Staff FIER/TIRANA, July 2, 2025 — In a stunning development that has shaken Albania’s oil sector, police arrested the current CEO of Bankers Petroleum, Chinese national Hongping Xiao, and the company’s former director, Leonidha Çobo, during a surprise raid on the company’s headquarters in Fier on Tuesday. …

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Massive Fraud Uncovered: Bankers Petroleum Under Fire for Decades of Tax Evasion and Billions in Untaxed Oil Revenues

CEO Arrested, €4 Billion in Oil Sales Revealed, and Zero Profit Tax Paid to the Albanian State FIER/TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times) — Albania’s largest oil producer, Bankers Petroleum, is at the center of a sweeping scandal that prosecutors say involves one of the most egregious cases of tax fraud and …

News
Rama Rebukes Farage: Albanian PM Slams “One-in-50” Prison Claim as Post-Brexit Scapegoating

 While Turning UK Migration Debate into Personal Stagecraft TIRANA TIMES — July 2, 2025 — A fiery public exchange between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and British right-wing populist Nigel Farage has brought the issue of Albanian migration into the political spotlight once again — but this time with a …

News
Skopje Summit Revives EU Enlargement Hopes — But Ignores the Democratic Erosion in the Balkans

The participants of the Growth Plan Summit, 1 July 2025, Skopje; Photo: European Commission By Tirana Times SKOPJE, July 2, 2025 — The European Union’s renewed enthusiasm for enlargement took center stage at this week’s Growth Plan Summit in Skopje, where EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos joined the leaders …

News
Albania’s ‘Lads of London’ Create Bigger Problems for Their Home Country

A social media row between British right-winger Nigel Farage and Albania’s premier Edi Rama over the level of crime committed by Albanians in the UK misses the main point. Original post Here

News
The Silent Collapse of the Tower Euphoria

By Klodian Tomorri The history of the global economy is filled with well-documented episodes of collective madness. Often, these episodes have culminated in crises that brought even the greatest empires to their knees—such as the Mississippi Bubble or the South Sea Bubble. In other cases, they have devastated the lives …

News

Toxic Smoke and Broken Promises: Albania’s Waste Crisis Exposes Deep Rot in Governance

ELBASAN, Albania, July 5,— For days, thick plumes of toxic smoke have risen from the burning landfill on the outskirts of Elbasan, one of Albania’s largest industrial cities. The stench of melting plastic, rotting waste, and scorched earth now hangs over entire neighborhoods. But this is not an isolated accident. …

News

Serbia on Edge as Vučić’s Legitimacy Crumbles

As Serbia grapples with one of its most volatile moments in recent political history, the warning signs of regime decay are hard to ignore. The recent student-led protests, marred by repression, nationalist hijacking, and social unrest, are more than a youth revolt—they are a reckoning. Sonja Biserko, the longtime chair …

News

Albanian MPs Adopt National Anti-Disinformation Strategy Amidst Opposition

Opposition parties and media unions condemn new strategy adopted by parliament, claiming the government wants to use it to exert more control over the media. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Anniversaries, Challenges and Conflicts

As BIRN celebrates two decades of work, there never seems to be a dull moment in the region, as our selection of Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

News

Arrests at Bankers Petroleum Spark Questions Over Albania’s Oil Industry and Accountability

By Tirana Times Staff FIER/TIRANA, July 2, 2025 — In a stunning development that has shaken Albania’s oil sector, police arrested the current CEO of Bankers Petroleum, Chinese national Hongping Xiao, and the company’s former director, Leonidha Çobo, during a surprise raid on the company’s headquarters in Fier on Tuesday. …

News

Massive Fraud Uncovered: Bankers Petroleum Under Fire for Decades of Tax Evasion and Billions in Untaxed Oil Revenues

CEO Arrested, €4 Billion in Oil Sales Revealed, and Zero Profit Tax Paid to the Albanian State FIER/TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times) — Albania’s largest oil producer, Bankers Petroleum, is at the center of a sweeping scandal that prosecutors say involves one of the most egregious cases of tax fraud and …

News

Rama Rebukes Farage: Albanian PM Slams “One-in-50” Prison Claim as Post-Brexit Scapegoating

 While Turning UK Migration Debate into Personal Stagecraft TIRANA TIMES — July 2, 2025 — A fiery public exchange between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and British right-wing populist Nigel Farage has brought the issue of Albanian migration into the political spotlight once again — but this time with a …

News

Skopje Summit Revives EU Enlargement Hopes — But Ignores the Democratic Erosion in the Balkans

The participants of the Growth Plan Summit, 1 July 2025, Skopje; Photo: European Commission By Tirana Times SKOPJE, July 2, 2025 — The European Union’s renewed enthusiasm for enlargement took center stage at this week’s Growth Plan Summit in Skopje, where EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos joined the leaders …

News

Albania’s ‘Lads of London’ Create Bigger Problems for Their Home Country

A social media row between British right-winger Nigel Farage and Albania’s premier Edi Rama over the level of crime committed by Albanians in the UK misses the main point. Original post Here

News

The Silent Collapse of the Tower Euphoria

By Klodian Tomorri The history of the global economy is filled with well-documented episodes of collective madness. Often, these episodes have culminated in crises that brought even the greatest empires to their knees—such as the Mississippi Bubble or the South Sea Bubble. In other cases, they have devastated the lives …